A delay in the construction of its lower park could signify the return of Lehighton's crowd-pleasing Bike Night event to its original location.

Borough manager Nicole Beckett informed council on Monday that the borough has received notification from the state Department of Transportation that it will need to reapply for a grant for the lower park project.Beckett said the borough must now apply under the new MAP program, and noted that federal funds have been removed from the budget for a handful of projects.A grant application will be submitted by April 4, said Beckett, who added that the borough should have priority funding, though it is not guaranteed.Beckett said she has shared her concerns with state Sen. John Yudichak and state Rep. Doyle Heffley."It's going to push construction back at least six months," Beckett said. "We are basically shovel ready."The project which will consist of new lighting, landscaping, sidewalks, walkways, utility improvements, ADA accessibility and signage was planned to begin this summer.In addition to the lower park, Beckett said the borough has a Greenways Trails Recreation Program grant through the Department of Community & Economic Development for the upper park, for which it was going to utilize the Transportation Enhancement Act funding as a match.All told, Beckett said about $589,250 is at stake, in addition to the funds already spent on engineering and administrative expenses.Afterward, council heard from Lehighton Downtown Initiative Committee President Frank Potoczak, of Red Castle Brewery and Castle Grill.Potoczak said the 16th annual event is planned for Aug. 9.At that, council President Grant Hunsicker said council wanted to discuss with Potoczak the possibility of moving the event back to the lower and upper park, where it's been staged in each of the previous 15 years.Earlier this month, it appeared as though the event was going to be held at the Grove, as well as the surrounding areas of Seventh Street, Eighth Street, Iron and Alum streets, after Potoczak and Lehighton Bike Night Committee member Ty Poole, of the Boat Yard Bar and Grill, met with council at a special meeting.But, on Monday, Hunsicker rationalized that the borough does not have the electrical facilities to handle the event at this time. The cost of materials alone is about $2,300, said Hunsicker, and added that the amount doesn't include the cost for labor and equipment hours.Potoczak appeared somewhat taken aback by the news."Iron Street was going to be sufficient as far as what we needed," Potoczak said. "It's getting a little frustrating. Honestly, I think up there would have made a better place."Potoczak said event organizers feel the need to have a rain date for the event, rather than make it a two-day event at this point in time. In the future, Potoczak said he could see it becoming a two-day event.Councilman Scott Rehrig attempted to explain council's stance."We think all the other events were successful," Rehrig said. "I wouldn't see why this year wouldn't be."Potoczak said he would have to discuss things with Poole, who is currently out of town.Hunsicker told Potoczak a special meeting could be held to review plans for the event.At a special meeting last month, council, on a 5-0 vote, made a motion to not allow the event to be held outside of the borough.That decision came after Beckett said Poole and Potoczak had informed her at that time that they were considering moving the event to Franklin Township because of construction work to the McCall Bridge, as well as the borough's planned lower park construction.The event is sponsored by the Lehighton Downtown Initiative Committee.